ABBREVIATED INVESTIGATIONS

House Bill 4704 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Kathy Crawford

Committee:  Families, Children and Seniors

Complete to 6-19-19

SUMMARY:

House Bill 4704 would amend the Child Protection Law (CPL) to define abbreviated investigation and to exempt abbreviated investigations from investigation checklist requirements.

Currently under the act, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) must implement an investigation checklist to be used in each investigation of suspected child abuse or child neglect it handles. An investigation cannot be closed until the checklist is completed and the completed checklist is reviewed by a supervisor.

The bill would add a definition for investigation checklist (“a tool used by a supervisor to review and verify compliance with investigation requirements”).

The bill would also define abbreviated investigation to mean an investigation in which a full investigation with all investigative policy requirements is not conducted and the department has determined that the case will result in a departmental determination, following a field investigation, that there is no evidence of child abuse or child neglect and that departmental services are not needed (i.e., a Category V disposition).

Under the bill, a caseworker would have to document why an investigation was an abbreviated investigation. An investigation checklist would not be required for an abbreviated investigation. However, before an abbreviated investigation could be closed, the investigation would have to be approved by the county director or his or her designee.  If this review and approval did not occur, the caseworker would have to conduct a full investigation.

MCL 722.622 and 722.628a

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 4704 would have minimal fiscal impact on DHHS and local units of government. Any additional cost to DHHS would depend upon any increase in administrative or staff costs under the bill’s provisions.

                                                                                         Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                 Fiscal Analyst:   Viola Bay Wild

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.